Looking around the house, Desiare shook her head, muttering curses as she left Zandrianna's bedchambers. The messenger had found her, just outside of Hobbiton, the hastily written note from Immalaine imploring her to come home. Zandrianna had worked herself into a state of exhaustion, taking ill as a result.
Desiare had packed her bag, and ridden hard, the assignment forgotten as all she could think of was her mother. 'Damn Zan!' she thought to herself, 'How many times have I said you need to let others help you?'
Now, standing in Zandrianna's house she looked over at where Immalaine was preparing a tea for everyone, the young woman still worried, but seemingly calmer. Thinking about everything that Zandrianna had on her mind, Desiare decided there was one thing she could do right away to help out. "Immalaine?" she asked, "Where's Merry?"
Thinking for a moment, Immalaine shrugged. "Probably down at th' Pony, with her friend Emra, knowing her." Immalaine looks over curiously, as she pours the tea. "Why ye ask?" Desiare shakes her head, "Oh, I thought I'd have a little talk to the girl, that's all." Nodding her thanks to Immalaine, she turns and heads up to the tavern to find the young redhead.
Finding Merithele exactly where her mother's cook said she would be, Desiare headed over to her and sat down. Quickly, she explained her idea, that Merry would come stay with her at her house. She'd have her own room and bed, meals and pay each week, and all she had to do was keep the house clean and keep an eye on it when Desiare was away. Merry, nodded in agreement, seemingly thrilled at the thought of having her own bed. In the middle of the conversation, Desiare paused, overhearing something said from nearby. "He couldn't have picked a better person. You're a great match." Turning to see who the happy couple was, her eyes widened as she realized it was Klauss with a new woman. She blinked, shaking her head in disbelief. Had he not asked her just three days before if he could ask Zandrianna for her hand? And had she not said she needed time to get to know him? He had agreed. And now this?? Closing her eyes, Desiare felt the fury burn through her veins, followed by an ice cold calm. 'Honorable man indeed! No better than any other man in Bree, and I knew better.' Standing, she turned to Merry, "Come on, let's head over to the house, so I can show you your room and then you can go get your things from Zandrianna's." Together, they left. Desiare never looked back.
And she never would ...
